The Most 'Amsterdam' Things Amsterdammers Always Say

We Amsterdammers definitely speak our own language -- and we aren’t talking about Dutch (or the preferred Amsterdam version: Nederglish). There’s stuff you’ll overhear on the Amsterdam tram that you’d never hear in any other capital city in the world. And it won’t even turn a head. We also tend to talk about bikes. A lot. Anyways, here’s a list of phrases that we almost too casually blurt out on a daily basis that definitely make outsiders think we’re the weird ones.

"I only fell in a canal that one time!"

"You can ride on the back of my bike... IF you buy me a drink when we get there."

Achteropzitten and -rijden are the first skills they train at the airport upon arrival.

“...ouwe!”

It translates to something along the lines of “oldie,” but just toss it at the end of every third sentence in a friendly conversation to prove your local status and fondness of the person you’re speaking to.

"The wind blew me off the bike path."

“I got it at the corner toko.”

The answer to the origin of all of the most delicious and unexpected food items in your friend’s house.

“Doe lekker normaal.”

“Just act normal,” tossed off with an eye-rolling dose of disdain, is supposed to calm even the most savage of Amsterdam’s “aso” (“a-social,” though its similarity to another A-word is completely appropriate) populace.

“Oh, you live in the Bijlmer/Osdorp/on IJburg? I just remembered I’m busy that night. I have to, um... wash my windows.”

Anywhere that requires you to bike more than 30 minutes is too far (but seriously, you know the neighbors are judging you for not hiring the same window washer as the rest of the block anyway).

30 Things to Do in Amsterdam for €10 or Less

Welcome to the country where claiming “cultural assimilation” is the best excuse for playing it cheap -- and thankfully, this city makes that super easy to do, with plenty to eat, drink, see, and do even if you're on a serious budget (of say, exactly €10 or less).

David VonDerLinn

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